DL with a 2.5 yo, questions

[Flagger]

Hi,

First time Reader, poster. We are taking our 2.5 year old on a SoCal Roundtrip driving from Phoenix first week of November. Four Parks in Four days. SW, Zoo in SD and Disney. We already have the Desert Inn booked for the weekend.

My questions are where is the best places for character interaction. I remember from 10 years ago the best place to get a picture of THE Mickey at WDW was at his house, so that was the first place we went when we stayed on the property. Where can this be done at DL?

Also are their things to do for a 2.5 year old at CA? and where are there things for one to do at DL? I read recently there is a big show with characters from Monsters and TS at CA so that is a must, but any other recs would be welcome.

Thank you so much.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Just wanted to say Welcome to the DisBoards!

 

[devmer]

They have Mickey and Minnie's houses in toontown, which is in the back of the park. I would suggest for Character expiriences one of the character meals. I just went to the Minnie and friends one at DL and it was great. We saw Minnie of course, Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Cinderella's fairy Godmother, Captain Hook, and Chip and Dale. The characters take a lot of time and really interact with your child. I've heard that Goofy's kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is really great also but I've never been to that one. If you go to disneyland.com and type in character meals or character expiriences you should get a list. The Plaza Inn was a breakfast buffet and adults were aprox. $20.00. I think your little one is free since they are under 3. You probably want to make reservations. Also at disneyland.com you can download maps for both parks and that will give you an idea of the different rides and the heigth and age requirements. Hope this helps! Sorry it's so long.

Dawn

 

[noryglory]

Be sure your 2.5 year old knows how stinkin big Mickey is! We have a hysterical picture of our family with Mickey--and mom and dad and Mick are smiling and our son is crying, well, hysterically! We went through Mickey's house in Toontown and waited in a short line to get the picture with Mickey. The CMs will take your picture for you, without a crowd of other people around. That's where I'd go to get with Mickey if I were you.

 

[denyd]

In Disneyland:
Minnie is normally at her house in ToonTown. Mickey is usually right next door. Also Chip, Dale, Goofy & Donald can be found wandering around.
Pochantas, Woody & Jessie can be found by the gates into Frontierland from the hub.
Little Mermaid has a big shell she frequents between FrontierLand & TomorrowLand.
Buzz Lightyear is at the TomorrowLand stage.
Mary Poppins, Queen of Hearts (w/ Tweedledee) & Alice (w/ Mad Hatter) wander in Fantasyland.
Pooh, Tigger & Eeyore have a meet n' great spot in Critter Country

In DCA:
There is a Princess Meal in Ariel's Grotto (not sure the times)
Incredilbles (Mr & Mrs only) & Woody in Animation
Mulan had a parade, but I think it's gone
The Bug's Life characters have a show followed by a meet n' greet

As for things to do with your little one in DL:
Small World, Autopia, Dumbo, Storybook Boats & Casey Jr are musts for all little ones. Depending on the fear level, Peter Pan, Mr Toad, Snow White & Pooh are lots of fun. Rides like Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room & Pirates depend on what frightens your little one. There's lots of interactive playthings in Toontown like Goofy's Bounce House & the Tree House, not really rides, but fun none the less.

In DCA the must do's are the Turtle Talk & Playhouse Disney shows and Flik's Flyer & if it's hot Dot's Puddle Pond.

One more thing, if you're going to be in San Diego, you might want to investigate if Legoland is something you'd enjoy.

(Wow, when I started typing this I was the first reply, BTW I have a 3.5yo DS and I based by suggestions on his favorites I litte girl might want more princesses and less running & jumping)

 

[Flagger]

Thank you all so much. BTW, does anyone know if the CityPass Early Admission to DL include EA into Toontown? We are pricing the four parks versus buying the tickets separately at AAA since we have no interest in the included Knotts BF.

Thanks

 

[wndrlandcat]

I think the best way is schedule a character breakfast at Goofy's kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. Your child will get one on one attention from the characters. My 2.5 year old loved it. There are not so many other people running around, you are able to get a nice picture with your child and the characters. They even have an option for a "professional" type photo that you can purchace

 

[Flagger]

Can you do a breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen even IF you are not staying on the property?

 

[CalGal]

Yup. Goofy's Kitchen is available to anyone. I recommend making a PS ahead of time. You can also have lunch/brunch or dinner. Dinners cost more. It's a pretty good buffet, and has good food and character variety

714-781-DINE

 

[Flagger]

Ok Hotel booked in SD for Sea World then the Wild Animal Park the next day and then on to Anaheim with a date with Mickey on Friday morning. I called and booked Goofy's Kitchen for 8AM Saturday morning. Early admission that day is 7AM, so if we did not get our picture with Mickey on Friday, we will head to ToonTown first thing as soon as the gates open.

Ms. Flagger and I have a picture book from a trip we took to WDW ten years ago and it is our DD's favourite thing to look at. She is already talking about going to see Mickey. Now to start planning our days.

Thanks everyone for their help and welcomes.

 

[Flagger]

OK I have just booked the Ramada Inn Maingate and holding one at the Desert Inn. The other hotels like BWParkPlace, Candy Cane are all booked for our dates 11/3-11/6.

From what I have read about Desert Inn, parking is going to be a b**** with a full sized Chevy Express. So I looked at the Ramada. We really only sleep at the park and bring our own plug in cooler so a fridge really is not needed. I think reviews are subjective, but being what is available and our budget I hope I am not making a mistake. To us, we would rather spend the money in the park than where we are just sleeping.

Anyone recently stay at either one of these that have pros and cons? Is there another I am missing? We would prefer to walk and just leave our vehicle at the hotel. However, given the distance to the Disneyland Hotel and our 8AM Saturday breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen, I wonder how that will work? Is there a shuttle from the park over to the DH or should we drive or what. I did find out that early admission is on Saturday at 7AM.

 

[CalGal]

However, given the distance to the Disneyland Hotel and our 8AM Saturday breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen, I wonder how that will work? Is there a shuttle from the park over to the DH or should we drive or what. I did find out that early admission is on Saturday at 7AM.

If you go to early admission (and I recommend that you do), I would think the monorail would be running and you could take it from Tomorrowland to DTD near the DLH. GK will be about a 5 minute walk from the monorail station. However, you'll have to give yourself at least 20 minutes to catch and ride the monorail and walk to GK. You'll miss a lot of your early entry time.

Why not move your GK breakfast back an hour or so (say 9 AM), so you can enjoy EE and the first 1/2 hour or so that the park is open to the general public? The lines are so short then. Actually, I would wait until much later; perhaps 11 - 1 for brunch after having just a quick muffin or fruit first thing in the morning. DL is so wonderful in the mornings when the crowds are the lightest.

PS -- Since the park doesn't officially open until 8, Toontown probably won't open until 9 (unless you have a Toontown Madness coupon, in which case you'll be able to get into Toontown at 8). If you're at GK from 8 to say 9 or 9:30, you won't be hitting Toontown first thing. But you should have no trouble finding Mickey. He's often in the Main Street plaza area signing autographs.

 

[Flagger]

Thanks for your reply. Our plan was to do Disney on Friday and get as much as possible and then do CA for Day two. We scheduled breakfast early to be able to do ToonTown only if we missed getting the one on one picture with Mickey the first day. We both think you are right about switching to a later time on Saturday to take full advantage of EE.

Does anyone know what time the Block Party is at CA on Saturdays? Disney seems to be the bigger draw as there will be more to do for a 2.5 yo toddler, but I for sure do not want to miss the Block Party.